Wales rolls out LIFT, impact of Winter Fuel Payment policy and new energy grants in the Better Off Calculator

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1. Welsh government launches country wide benefit take up campaign to improve living standards

Jane Hutt MS, the Welsh Government’s Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, has announced an exciting new partnership between Policy in Practice and the Welsh Government in the Senedd this month.

In the first initiative of its kind, half of all Welsh local authorities will use Policy in Practice's LIFT platform to proactively identify people in Wales who are missing out on £2 billion in unclaimed benefits. Covering thousands of households, the year long pilot aims to deliver millions in increased income for people living on a low income in Wales. Sign up here to receive updates to this project.

2. How the new single unique identifier could transform safeguarding

We welcome the Children's Wellbeing and Schools Bill, introduced to parliament just before Christmas, that will "pave the way for a unique identifier number for children across services - like the national insurance number works for adults". Relevant data can be more effectively linked, helping to keep more children safe.

We talked about how a single unique identifier will enhance our MAST platform at the National Children and Adults Services conference, and wrote about it here. Join our free webinar on 26 February to hear more.

3. New grants for paying energy bills available via the Better Off Calculator

Policy in Practice has been working with the British Gas Energy Trust for the past year to help people with energy debt or struggling with their energy bills. We’ve been signposting users to energy providers' support schemes in the Better Off Calculator.

We’ve now added a one click application to the calculator enabling users to easily apply for two new funds opened by the Trust. Grants worth up to £2,000 are available to help people with energy debt on prepayment meter or credit accounts. Qualifying criteria applies. Log in to the Better Off Calculator or find out more.

4. Tackling benefit fraud myths in the news

The Public Authorities (Fraud, Error, and Recovery) Bill grants new powers to tackle benefit fraud, including direct bank deductions. While aimed at protecting public funds, it challenges councils to balance fraud prevention with resident support. Councils face administrative burdens but also opportunities to improve welfare delivery.

We addressed these issues and debunked benefit fraud myths in the media this month. Read our blog to learn more about the bill’s impact and how councils can navigate these changes while promoting fairness, reducing stigma, and ensuring residents access to the support they need.

5. New claims for Pension Credit in 2025 will eat into the planned savings from the Winter Fuel Payment cut

Policy in Practice’s latest analysis shows 57,000 extra Pension Credit claims have been made since the Winter Fuel Payment announcement, putting the government on track to meet its budgeted savings. Yet our data analysis suggests that the average pensioner could receive up to £6,800 in support, far exceeding Treasury estimates of £3,900. If this trend holds, the allocated budget for increased claims could have been spent by early January. Our insights uncover the real impact of policy changes. Read our full analysis.

Southend-on-Sea City Council urges pensioners to claim Pension Credit and access winter support

Using the Low Income Family Tracker (LIFT), Southend-on-Sea City Council has identified nearly 800 pensioners entitled to Pension Credit but not claiming it.

Cllr Daniel Cowan, Leader of the Council, said:

"We know how tough things are for some of our pensioners, and we want to ensure no one misses out on the support they're entitled to, which is why we are reaching out and promoting the many benefits and support available. We've identified over 800 eligible pensioners so far and will keep working to get that number up until we've identified everyone who is entitled to the support they aren't claiming."

To further help with rising living costs, the council has also ringfenced £250,000 from the Household Support Fund, offering grants of up to £720 for essentials like food and energy bills. Read more here.